Typically Lake Elsinore Storm baseball kicks its season off with a home game, but because the team launches this year with an away game, its officials decided to do something a little special and unique this year.

Enter Fan Fest 2013, a free event in which the community can watch the new team take batting practice, tweet questions to the players and get real-time responses, get autographs from the players, compete for a pair of season passes, and enjoy the kid zone.

Batting practice is rarely opened for viewing, so the event is a special opportunity for the fans, said Tracy Kessman, assistant general manager.

Every year, there are plenty of new names on the roster, so it really is a new team.

“It’s a great way to introduce themselves to the community,” Kessman said. “This will create a relationship (between fans and players) early in the season, and that’s always helpful and beneficial.”

And, she added, the evening will be a blast. The free event -- even parking is free -- is set for 5 to 8 p.m. April 3 at The Diamond stadium in Lake Elsinore.

It kicks off with the 2013 Storm team taking batting practice, followed by an autograph session with players and coaches.

During the interactive session, fans will be able to tweet questions and receive live answers from the players. In addition, there will be a scavenger hunt via Twitter where clues will be given to various locations around the ballpark. Fans who participate and complete the scavenger hunt will be entered into a drawing for a $1,200 grand prize package that includes two season tickets and other Storm baseball gear.

A “Kids Fun Zone” also will be offered, and the team mascot, Thunder, will be out and about visiting with kids.